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the shy, half-formed face and the small wounded heart, he blessed the whole length of the body; from the up-stretched arms to the strange, backward turn of the feet, he blessed their high intelligence to brave the abandoned places only to save what is theirs alone to give, blessed again and again that perfect beauty until the child became sunlight, forever shining within – of self-blessing. 152 New Caribbean Poetry
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Index of First Lines A bajhan breaks the dawn. A chicken has settled atop my father’s tomb. A comedian once said A man strums his guitar so hard it bleeds. A mute girl and a disoriented snake A resonance of woodland green A well-loved lit classic Against the yam-vine quiet of the garden An eggshell of the serpent, la cuidad de San Juan. An evanescent summer dance of fireflies … and somehow every Sunday morning At the end of his life, my father stood Back when I used to play doctor: I am … bad wicked bad wicked Before Camille Pissarro left St. Thomas island Believe me when I tell you City of enemy hands, Come visit this life and enter Dear God, take this entire body – I no longer need it, 5th Av. and midnight make my arm tired Forgive the artist this scene. Grandmummy mumbles and babbles Grandmummy’s mind left her here is sorrow enough here, then, is the crux of it Humanity living with its lobster heads I am told the great Buddha found rest I hear her calling to the houses she knows. I name this a Sanctuary. Enter. I never born. I said, ‘Hello, my name is Tanya.’ I who born I would buy a bottle of cheap red wine 149 18 110 105 68 27 45 24 70 17 37 84 31 54 75 95 67 7 9 51 96 46 48 130 134 16 148 144 3 52 107 56 102

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the shy, half-formed face and the small wounded heart, he blessed the whole length of the body; from the up-stretched arms to the strange, backward turn of the feet, he blessed their high intelligence to brave the abandoned places only to save what is theirs alone to give, blessed again and again that perfect beauty until the child became sunlight, forever shining within – of self-blessing.

152

New Caribbean Poetry

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